Nonferrous alloy



Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH L. BINNEY, F TOLEDO, OHIO, fLSSIGNOR TO THE BINNEY CASTINGS COMPANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO NONFERROUS ALLOY No Drawing.

This invention relates generally to alloys, and more particularly to non-ferrous alloys having: a high resistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures, an ability to withstand high temperatures without substantial deformation, and a low coeflicient ot expansion.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 2R0,661.filedMay25,192S.

I have found that non'l.'crr0us alloys containingvanadium, and particularly non-ferrous alloys of copper. nickel and aluminum, or of copper, nickel. aluminum and zinc have certain desirable characteristics. The addition of the vanadium materially reduces the coeiiicient of expansion, thus reducing the tendency to check or crack under high temperature. The addition of the vanadium also changes the natural dendritic structure of such alloys to a so-called island structure. By island structure I mean that under the microscope certain constituents of the metal occur as round bodies which are distributed throughout the crystal.

The structure, thus produced by the addition. of vanadium resembles the structure which can be imparted to the copper, nickel and aluminum. or copper, nickel, aluminum and Zinc alloys. by heat treatment. even When the alloy centa-ining the vanadium is not heat treated. The addition of vanadium sires av more uniform metallic structure and raises the tensile strength to about 80.000 pounds per sepia-r: inch- The addition of the vanadium also improves the machinabilike of the metal.

The alloy containing vanadium is especially adapted for the production of articles such as molds for glass, pistons and valves for internal combustion engines and bearings, all of which must he able to withstand hi gh temperatures without sealing or checking and Without deforming" or expanding to any substantial degree.

The copper in alloy may vary between 10% and 80%, the nickel from 5% to 35%, the aluminum from an effective amount up to 15%, and the vanadium from an eifective amount up to The alloy pref- Seriai No. 382,591.

erahly contains zinc from an effective amount up to although the zinc may be omitted. The zinc is valuable as it improves casting conditions. The casting of the alloy presents some dilliculties due to the fori'zom 17,1 to aluminum from 5% to 52. Zinc from 3% to 10%, and vanadium from 2% to As a spec; in an alloy cnibod mg m invention, I give the iollowing analys Percent Copper 64: Nickel 19 Aluminum 8 Zinc 8 Vanadium 0.2

As above stated, the addition of vanadium to alloys of the character referred to reduces the coeflicientof expansion. Two alloys ha ing the following analyses were tested to determine their coefficients of expansion:

Alloy 1 Per ceiit Copper 67. 37 Nickel 17. 27 Aluminum 6. Zinc. 7.97 Vanadium 0.12

Alloy 2 Percent Copper 62.82 Nickel 21.30 Aluminum 7.00 Zinc 7. Vanadium 0.83

mplc of the composition of fill loo

Lil

The results are shown in the following table:

Average coefiiciemfs f empansz'oa for U.

Range Alloy 1 Alloy 2 "'O x x 10- It will be noted from the above table that alloy 2 which had a larger percentage of "anadium than alloy 1 showed a lower coefficient of expansion throughout all of the ranges from to 700 C. than alloy 1.

There appears to be a certain relationship between the ratio of aluminum to zinc in order that the alloy may exhibit to the greatest extent the properties of resistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures, and the ability to withstand high temperatures without substanital deformation and without substantial contractionor expansion. I have found that when the aluminum and zinc are in about equal proportions, for example, about 8% each, the alloy exhibits the desired characteristics to a high degree. The ratio of aluminum to zinc maybe varied somewhat, and it has been found that when the percentage of aluminum is increased and the percentage of zinc is decreased, the alloy still exhibits the desired properties, and articles made from such an alloy are somewhat harder and stronger than those in which the aluminum and zinc are in equal percentages, the increase in strength being due to the increase in percentage of aluminum. On the other hand. if the percentage of zinc is somewhat greater than the percentage of aluminum, the alloy has less strength, but may be machined more easily.

It is desirable to maintain the total of the aluminum and zinc between about 6% and 20%. lVhen the total of the aluminum and zinc is maintained within this range, the ratio of aluminum to zinc may be varied somewhat from the preferred ratio of about 1 to 1, although ordinarily it is advisable in such cases to have the aluminum constitute at least one-half of the total of alum num and zincwhere strength is an important consideration.

The alloy is fluid enough at a temperature of about 2100 to 2200 F. so that articles made from these alloys can be readily cast. They have a better resistance to scaling and checking at high. temperatures than the nickel-chromiuni-iron alloys, which have a higher melting point and which cannot be readily cast, but are usually forged.

Although the alloy maybe used in the production of any articles which are to be subjeeted to high temperatures, it is especially adapted for casting such articles as molds for glass, pistons, and valves for internal combustion engines, and bearings, since these articles must resist scaling and checking at, high temperatures, and must withstand deformation and undue construction and expansion. The great resistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures is believed to be due to the formation of a thin protective film on the surface of the alloy. The film is probably composed of compounds of the elements of the alloy, a large part of the compound consisting of oxides. This film forms a velvet covering on the surface of the alloy and helps to prevent glass from sticking to the mold.

, The film is more resistant to attack by the glass or by heat than is the alloy, so that, the formation of such a. film on the glass mold prolongs its life. The film is different from that which forms on most other heat-resisting alloys in that it occurs as a fine powder, while in the case of cast iron molds, the oxides form as scale which cracks off, leaving a rough surface which ruins the mold for further work until it has been repolished. This film forms more extensively at high temperatures than at low temperatures. and, accordingly, is most useful where high temperatures are to be employed.

The alloy. being non-ferrous in character, develops less friction with iron parts than is the case with ferrous alloys. For this reason, it is particularly adapted for the production of engine parts. such as valves and pistons. In addition to the superiority of the alloy over ferrous alloys in that it develops less friction, my alloy is very resistant to corrosion from salt water, so that valves and other parts made from the alloy may be used advantageously in marine motors which are subjected to the action of salt water. Furthermore. at ordinary temperatures, the alloy is excellent for the production of mechanical or structural parts which should be resistant to corrosion and which require a strength several times greater than that of the normal bronze.

Bv scaling I mean the formation of oxides or other compounds that are formed on contact of the alloy either with hot gases or other hot material. By checking I mean the development of small surface cracks.

I have described in detail the preferred composition of my alloy, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An alloy containing about 646% copper 19% nickel, 8% aluminum, 8% zinc, and

0.2% vanadium.

2. Articles having a high resistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures, the ability to withstand distortion, and low coefficient of expansion, formed 'ing and checking at high from an alloy concopper, about 19% nickel, about 8% aluminum, about 8% zinc, and about 0.2% vanadium.

3. A glass mold having ahigh resistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures, the ability to withstand distortion, and low coeflicient of expansion, formed from an alloy containing from 50 to copper, from 10 to nickel, from 6 to 9% aluminum, from 6 to 9% zinc, and from 0.2 to 2.0% Vanadium.

4. An alloy having high resistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures, the ability to withstand distortion, and low coeflicient of expansion, the alloy containing from 40 to 80% copper, from 10 to 30% ni kel, from 6 to 9% aluminum, from 6 to 9% zinc, and from an eifective amount up to 5.0% vanadium.

taining about 64% 5. An alloy having high resistance to seal-- ing and checking at high temperatures, the ability to withstand distortion, and low coeflicient of expansion, the alloy containing from 40 to 80% copper, from 10 to 30% nickel, from 6 to 9% aluminum, from 6 'to 9% zinc, and from0.1 to 0.5% vanadium.

6. An alloy having high resistance to scal- I ing and checking at high temperatures, the ability to withstand distortion, and low coefiicient of expansion, from 40 to 80% copper, from 10 to 30% nickel, from 6 to 9% aluminum, from 6 to 9% zinc, and about 0.2% of vanadium.

7 An alloy having highresistance to scaling and checking at high temperatures, the

vability to withstand distortion, and low coefiicient of'expansion, the alloy containing from 40 to 80% copper, from 17 to 30% nickel, from 6 to 9% aluminum, from 6 to 9% zinc, and from 0.1 to 5% vanadium.

8. An alloy having high resistance to sealtemperatures, the ability to withstand distortion, and low coefiicient of expansion, the alloy containing from 40 to 80% copper, from 10 to 30% nickel,

from 6 to 9% aluminum, from 6 to 9% zinc, and from 0.1 to 0.5% vanadium, the alloy being substantially free from tin.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7 RALPH L. BINNEY.

the alloy containing 

